Whiffletree-hook



(No Model.) W. O. WENTWORTH.

WHIFFLETREE HOOK. No. 486,551. Patented Nov. 22,1892. Y

2 WCJVeniworth.

\m/ 13 hi 0. Jlifrg y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC VILLIAM C. IVENTXVORTH,OF DEXTER, MAINE.

WHlFFLETREE-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,551, dated November22, 1892.

Application filed September 9, 1891. $erial No. 405,219. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. WENT- WORTH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Dexter, in the county of Penobscot and State ofMaine, have invented a new and useful lVhiffletree-Hook, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in whiffletree-hooks.

The object of the present invention is to provide for whiffietrees ofcarriages, similar vehicles, sleighs, and the like a whiffletreehookwhich will be strong and durable, which willpresent a neat andattractive appearance, and which willnot retard'the fastening or placingof a trace on a whiffletree or wear the same when fastened.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of awhiffletree provided with a hook constructed in accordance with thisinvention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a detailperspective view of the hook or spring.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a whiftletreeprovided at its end 2 with a groove 3, arranged on the upper and lowerfaces of the whiffletree and adapted to receive a spring 4, which isconstructed of flat metal and is approximately V-shaped and has itslower arm or portion 5 securedin the groove on the lower face of thewhiffletree by screws 6, arranged in countersunk openings of the spring,whereby their heads are arranged fiush with the lower face of thesprings,

so that they will not retard or interfere with the placing or removal ofa trace. The spring passes around the end of the whiffletree and is notsecured on the upper face of the same; but the upper arm or portion 7,which is shorter and stiffer than the lower portion, receives the fullforce of the spring, which is strongest at the extreme end of thewhiflietree, and which would have its tension decreased were the upperarm or portion 7 secured intermediate its ends. The extreme end of theupper arm or portion 7 is provided with a depending lug 8, arranged toprevent accidental removal of a trace and adapted to be depressed into acircular depression 9, arranged at the inner terminus of the groove inthe upper face of the whitfietree. The depending lug, which forms ashoulder against which the trace abuts, is rounded, so that it will notwear the trace.

It will be seen that the rounded lug of the upper arm or portion of thespring or hook drops into a small round hole or socket,which in no wiseweakens the whiffletree, as would be the case were a Wide flat lugemployed; that the rounded lug coming against the trace causes lessfriction and wear and is much stronger than a thin square shoulder orlug; that the spring is fastened to the lower face of the whiffietree bycountersunk screws, which do not retard the passage of the trace inplacing it on a whiffletree or removing it therefrom, as would be thecase were rivets employed with projecting heads, and that the upperportion or arm of the spring begins to bend from the extreme end of thewhiiiictree, where the strength of the spring is the strongest, therebyenabling a much lighter and shorter spring to be employed. It will beseen that the upperarm or portion of the spring is straight and may bedepressed into the groove, so that a trace may be removed without comingin contact with the spring and being retarded and worn. It will also beobserved that the lower arm 5 is of greater length than the spring 4 andcovers the lower side of the opening or recess 9, and at the same timeprovides an under metallic wearing-surface with which the trace contactsand avoids Wear directly upon the under side of the whiffletree.Furthermore, by this construction the spring 4 is prevented frombecoming broken by being depressed below a predetermined extent byhaving the end of the rounded lug to strike thereagainst. The tendencyof the continual movement of the spring 4 over and against the end ofthe whiffletree would be to wear away the recess and increase themovementor depth of depression of said spring, and consequently the lug8,

bearing against the exposed portion of the arm 5 over the lower part ofthe recess or opening 9, would always result in the same depth ofdepression of the said spring and avoid straining of the bend betweenthe latter and the arm 5.

hat I claim is A Whifiletree provided at one end with a groove extendinginward from the central portion thereof on the upper and lower sides ofthe same and the upper part of said groove having an opening at thetermination thereof that extends through the whiflietree, in combinationwith a spring attach mentfor retaining a trace on a whifi'letree,consisting of an upper spring having an inner angularly-bent end formedinto a rounded lug adapted to be pressed through the opening at thetermination of the upper groove of the Whiffietree and bent at its outerend and continued in a lower arm of greater length than the springWILLIAM C. WENTVVORTH.

Witnesses:

B. O. WENTWORTH, THOS. H. B. PIERCE.

